Anti-bacterial activity of Extract of Crinum jagus bulb against Isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract

Crinum jagus plant has been reportedly used for treatment of infectious diseases in Nigeria. In this study, the 
antibacterial activity of the crude extract and chromatographic fractions from the bulb of Crinium jagus against Mycobacterium 
tuberculosis isolates was investigated using Lowenstein-Jensen medium (LJ) and Middlebrook 7H10 agar. Colony forming 
unit (cfu) was determined and percentage inhibition calculated by mean reduction in number of colonies on extract containing 
medium as compared to extract free control medium. The highest inhibition rate of 59% representing 56 cfu was observed for
M. tuberculosis isolate 3 in Middlebrook 7H10 medium while similar rate of 57% was obtained on LJ medium. Fraction F3 
showed 86% inhibition activity at 1.0mg/ml concentration in Middlebrook 7H10 agar compared with fractions F4 and F5 
which showed 63% and 73% inhibition rates respectively. Even though, higher inhibition rates were observed with 
Middlebrook 7H10 agar as compared with LJ medium the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The results 
support the folkloric use of Crinum jagus in the treatment of microbial infections and suggest that the plant may be beneficial 
in the treatment of tuberculosis.